Dear Dakota,

How do you handle clients who refuse to give you a budget, despite explanations and an initial design presentation?

This week’s Dear Dakota question comes from an interior designer who’s struggling to get a budget from clients—even after the initial design presentation. Talk about frustrating!!!!!!!

If you’ve ever felt stuck in this situation, you’re not alone. Budget conversations can be tricky for a lot of the interior designers I talk to.

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

If you’re newer to the field, you may have NO clue how to manage a new build or renovation project. Or maybe you’ve been collaborating with contractors for a while, and things are feeling more out of control than ever. And if you have a difficult GC, lots of delays, and subs moving on to other jobs because they couldn’t wait for all your plumbing finishes to arrive, your profitability tanks, your overwhelm skyrockets, and your client is now somehow mad at YOU. The nerve!

If this sounds all too familiar, keep reading for seven ways to create boundaries around project management (there are certainly a million more). Throughout this post, I will refer to construction and renovation management as project management, and I’m making the assumption you are NOT a licensed general contractor.

01 | Clearly define the services you offer during the construction phase

If you are comfortable collaborating with contractors, doing site visits, processing change orders, and being the point person during the construction phase, this should be spelled out clearly in the contract and scope and should be reflected in your pricing. Or, if you will only collaborate and coordinate with your own painter/wallpaper hanger/carpenter/carpet guy/etc. that should be detailed as well.

📌 IMPORTANT: Be sure to check with your attorney on what is allowed in your state related to managing your own subcontractors and billing for their services. This often falls into the General Contractor category, and if you’re not a licensed GC, you could be opening yourself up to a lot of liability. So again → check with a licensed attorney in your state on the legal way to handle this and then define it in your contract.

But, even without taking on the role of GC, there is ample opportunity for you to be an asset to your client during the construction and installation phase.

For instance:

• Being present for deliveries of items ordered through your company

• Providing on-site design-specific instructions and specification books to installers and fabricators

• Confirming that installation meets your design intent

• Troubleshooting and answering questions from any of the tradespeople on site

• and much more.  

An interior designer being on-site at critical points during construction can ensure the design is being implemented properly. If the project warrants and you are making regular site visits during the process, make sure both your client and the GC understand your role.

02 | Know who you will and won’t work with.

If you’ve been in the industry for a while, you’ve likely worked with a builder or two you’d prefer to avoid in the future. During the inquiry phase, find out if the client has already contracted with a builder or GC. Based on past experience, there may be times when it’s best to decline a project early or steer a client away from a problematic contractor.

Ensure your prospects are working with LICENSED professionals, not their brother and his college buddies who are “really good at carpentry.” (Yes, this has happened to one of my clients.)

If they aren’t using licensed contractors and are planning to DIY any construction, you’re likely better off moving them to a Design Only service. More on that here. 

Clients will likely ask for your recommendation when they haven’t hired a builder or GC yet, so develop a list of contractors you trust. Some states may require you to provide multiple recommendations to avoid liability, so consult with an attorney to determine what’s allowable and how to protect yourself.

📌 In any event, SAVE your “little black book of vetted contractors and vendors” for once a prospect becomes a client. Don’t give that premium info away to anyone who asks.

03 | Be upfront with prospects about who hires contractors. You or them.

This ties back to point #1—knowing what’s allowable in your state.

A general contractor is responsible for applying for building permits, ordering build materials, managing the project timeline, carrying GC insurance, and hiring, scheduling, overseeing, and paying all subcontractors.

Depending on your state’s laws, you may take on certain parts of the process but always check with a licensed attorney.

For instance, if your state allows you to hire subcontractors without a GC license or without special insurance, you may hire, schedule, and pay the installers whose work involves products or decorative finishes while the GC manages all the construction-related elements, such as the sheetrock install, carpentry, plumbing, and cabinet subcontractors. There may be instances where the installation of decorative finishes (wallcovering, drapery install, mirror, and art installation) happens after the completion of the GC’s management of the project, so these may be areas that you oversee. 

Ensure the client understands who is responsible for what and that they will have a separate contract (separate from the contract with you) with the GC and any other third party hired by them (architect, structural engineer, landscape designer, etc.). 

When we work with interior designers, we define multiple touchpoints throughout their process to explain who will be responsible for what, how services will be paid for, and who will be overseeing various aspects of construction.

If construction projects have been a source of stress, it’s time to take back control. The DTS Files gives you access to this full post, plus expert insights to help you structure your CA services, set better boundaries, and confidently stay in your lane during construction.

🔑 Read the rest inside The DTS Files — my members-only collection of advanced strategies, industry insights, and behind-the-scenes advice for running a profitable, elevated design firm.

💌 Not quite ready to become a member? Join The Weekly Install® and get my best insights and strategies for free delivered straight to your inbox every Friday. Sign up here.

Dear Dakota,

How To Identify Red Flag Clients (vs. clients you just don’t want to work with)?

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights. There IS a big difference between the two.

As business owners, we spend so much time figuring out what to do that we rarely stop to think about what we should stop doing. Over the years, I’ve refined my process, grown my team, and built a successful business that serves both my clients and my life. And a huge part of that? Letting go of things that don’t serve me, my business, or my time.

In this post, I’m sharing the 12 things I don’t do in my business—things that have helped me scale efficiently, maintain strong boundaries, and create a client experience that’s both profitable and sustainable.

• Why I never let a prospect book a call before screening them (and why you shouldn’t either).

• The one thing I do not subscribe to, follow, or consume—and how it’s helped me grow faster.

• How I structure my availability to avoid burnout and keep my brain fresh for deep, strategic work.

If you’re feeling stretched too thin, overcommitted, or like your business is running you instead of the other way around, this post will show you the small (but powerful) shifts you can make to take back control.

Join The DTS Files to read the full article now.

The market is shifting, and client budgets are tightening. What worked last year—rolling with unexpected costs, clients saying "yes" to everything—isn’t working now. If you’re seeing more hesitation, scope changes, or pricing pushback, it’s time to recession-proof your business before the slowdown hits hard.

In this members-only post, I’m sharing the seven essential strategies interior designers need to implement now to stay profitable, keep projects moving forward, and protect their bottom line—regardless of what the economy does next.

Inside, we’ll cover:

• Why relying on product markups alone is risky—and how to structure your fees for financial stability.

• The biggest mistake designers make when discussing budgets (and how to set clear financial expectations from day one).

• How to audit your expenses, assess your marketing, and refine your processes to build a lean, resilient business.

• What to do if a client suddenly changes their budget—and how to handle the conversation with confidence.

If you want to ensure your interior design business thrives no matter the economy, this post is a must-read.

Upgrade to The DTS Files membership now to access the full post.

If client revisions are eating into your profits and dragging out timelines, you’re not alone. Many interior designers struggle with clients who second-guess their selections, request endless changes, and hesitate to approve final designs. The good news?

This isn’t a “bad client” problem—it’s a process problem.

In this members-only post, I’m sharing exactly how to structure your design process to reduce revisions, set clear expectations, and ensure clients confidently approve your designs the first time.

Inside, I’ll share:

• The one fix that will instantly cut down on unnecessary revisions (it happens before the presentation).

• How to guide clients toward the best design decisions—without making them feel pressured.

• The critical mistake designers make when presenting options (and why it leads to more second-guessing).

• How to create a revision policy that protects your time, your profitability, and your sanity.

If you’re tired of endless reselecting, stretched-out timelines, and feeling like you’re losing control of your projects, this post will give you the exact framework to streamline your process and keep projects moving forward.

Upgrade to The DTS Files membership now to unlock my advice!

Disney World isn’t just an amusement park—it’s a masterclass in client experience. Every detail, from the first inquiry to the final farewell, is designed to create a seamless, high-touch, and wildly profitable customer journey.

Inside The DTS Files, we’re breaking down:

• How Disney eliminates transactional friction to create a premium experience (and how you can, too)

• The small onboarding tweak that builds excitement and reduces overwhelm for clients

• Why Disney’s efficiency model is key to running a smoother, more profitable design process

• How to extend the client experience beyond project completion for long-term loyalty

If you want to elevate your client experience and attract high-end clients who trust your process, upgrade to The DTS Files for full access.